Hi, I have been working for a local Lawn Service provider for the past 5 years and just beginning to get enough equipment to take on a few customers of my own. I was the victim of getting too old so I was retired after 26 years with the worlds largest Oil Field Services Co. I was unsuccessful in finding another job right away so when this 82 year old man who had been mowing for over 45 years asked me if I would be interested in working part time I jumped at the chance. That was 5 years ago and now at 68 I have acquired a few customers of my own and still work full time for the OLD MAN. I just got a new (used) trailer and created my Logo and hand painted it on the side.

I thank everyone on this forum because I have learned so much.

Thanks for being so generous and helpful with your advise, comments, and all the suggestions and forms.

TiedemanLLC

01-13-2012, 10:00 PM

Hi, I have been working for a local Lawn Service provider for the past 5 years and just beginning to get enough equipment to take on a few customers of my own. I was the victim of getting too old so I was retired after 26 years with the worlds largest Oil Field Services Co. I was unsuccessful in finding another job right away so when this 82 year old man who had been mowing for over 45 years asked me if I would be interested in working part time I jumped at the chance. That was 5 years ago and now at 68 I have acquired a few customers of my own and still work full time for the OLD MAN. I just got a new (used) trailer and created my Logo and hand painted it on the side.

I thank everyone on this forum because I have learned so much.

Thanks for being so generous and helpful with your advise, comments, and all the suggestions and forms.

congrats on the new adventure.

Couple questions, did you talk with the old man that you were going to branch out on your own? And if yes or no, how did it go?

SECTLANDSCAPING

01-13-2012, 10:34 PM

I like the high sides on that trailer. You did a good job painting too.

Hedgemaster

01-13-2012, 10:50 PM

Great. Another young punk with a mower.

:D

Congrats and all the best to you.

You should consider picking up a slightly used lion, or tiger for that trailer!
Got a client who hasn't paid their bill? Toss 'em in! Cage match!!!

:D

gil500

01-14-2012, 10:40 AM

congrats on the new adventure.

Couple questions, did you talk with the old man that you were going to branch out on your own? And if yes or no, how did it go?

Yes, he already knew I was mowing for a few neighbors when he first asked me if I would help him. I keep him informed about any new customers and if he has nothing going at the moment he will help me. We get along just great.

gil500

01-14-2012, 10:50 AM

I like the high sides on that trailer. You did a good job painting too.

THANK YOU
It was my first and probably last attempt at sign painting. The peel and stick vinyl lettering worked pretty good. The best thing about this trailer is how easy it is to lower and raise the ramp with the Elegator assist spring.

gil500

01-14-2012, 11:01 AM

Great. Another young punk with a mower.

:D

Congrats and all the best to you.

You should consider picking up a slightly used lion, or tiger for that trailer!
Got a client who hasn't paid their bill? Toss 'em in! Cage match!!!

:D

THANK YOU
I like the tall sides because I don't have a garage or secure place to park it and all the equipment I have stays on the trailer.

dpld

01-14-2012, 12:01 PM

good luck and continued success.:)

SECTLANDSCAPING

01-14-2012, 12:07 PM

Whats interesting here is a lot of start ups are teenagers. In this case we have the exact opposite. I think theres a advantage for a older fella considering property owners are 45-60 anyways. I could see how that would help connect with clients and rule out the irresponsibility perception of young people. The experience of life has its own advantages that cant be matched.

TiedemanLLC

01-14-2012, 12:32 PM

Yes, he already knew I was mowing for a few neighbors when he first asked me if I would help him. I keep him informed about any new customers and if he has nothing going at the moment he will help me. We get along just great.

Thats great to hear. Has he helped you build up the business, or is he more of an off hands approach by letting you learn on your own?

ringahding1

01-14-2012, 02:38 PM

Thanks Gil for the inspiring thread. If the grass cutting doesn't work out, clearly you have skills artistically that you could get paid for.

The one thing I do a lot is read, especially in the winter months, so I read many stories that just make you either want to PUKE or make you WORK even harder.
Stories like yours keeps the passion and drive alive!

Good luck brother!

Ducke

01-14-2012, 06:07 PM

Thank goodness
I am not the old timer on here any more.
I look forward to watching your posts
Good luck with the company.

Graham
AKA: Ducke

gil500

01-14-2012, 08:06 PM

Thats great to hear. Has he helped you build up the business, or is he more of an off hands approach by letting you learn on your own?

He is willing to do anything to help me build up the business. I feel very lucky to have someone like him with his experience as a mentor. I have never worked with anyone at any age who can keep up with this 85 year old man.

TiedemanLLC

01-15-2012, 09:40 AM

He is willing to do anything to help me build up the business. I feel very lucky to have someone like him with his experience as a mentor. I have never worked with anyone at any age who can keep up with this 85 year old man.

Thats great to have a mentor. I think so many of us could learn a great deal from someone that has been in the business. I remember when I was first starting out in the business there was a local company here that had been in the business 15 years previous. I listened to her and what she said to watch out for. It's funny, because at the time I kind of blew her off, but soon I realized that she was totally right.

Steve

01-16-2012, 02:07 PM

Hi Gil,

Welcome to our forum!

What kinds of things have you been doing to market your business and attract new customers?

ringahding1

01-17-2012, 01:10 AM

He is willing to do anything to help me build up the business. I feel very lucky to have someone like him with his experience as a mentor. I have never worked with anyone at any age who can keep up with this 85 year old man.

I know what you mean, my first year I was introduced to this man (WWII VET) who repaired lawn mowers out of his farmland home. Funny it was a customer that introduced us, but long story short my JOHN DEERE mower would break down every week and every time he would say "$20". Of course we know the costs of repairs, so I would always look at him funny..and he would say "You helped"..that's ol school! Moral of the story is where have all the good one's gone?

I would always flip em an extra 5 or 10, he got me through my first two years, plus he taught me some small engine techniques along the way.

gil500

01-17-2012, 02:24 PM

I know what you mean, my first year I was introduced to this man (WWII VET) who repaired lawn mowers out of his farmland home. Funny it was a customer that introduced us, but long story short my JOHN DEERE mower would break down every week and every time he would say "$20". Of course we know the costs of repairs, so I would always look at him funny..and he would say "You helped"..that's ol school! Moral of the story is where have all the good one's gone?

I would always flip em an extra 5 or 10, he got me through my first two years, plus he taught me some small engine techniques along the way.

I know where you come from. I have an old John Deere 175 riding lawn tractor that I purchased from a garage sale and I spend a lot of time every week working on it just to keep it going. I feel fortunate because I have a nice push mower that is dependable and has never failed to start and go.

I wish that WWII VET was close enough that I could get him to work on this John Deere. Like you I would not mind flipping an extra dime or two to have someone as good hearted and caring as he must be help someone by under charging for his service. You don't find people like that everyday.

gil500

01-17-2012, 02:50 PM

Hi Gil,

Welcome to our forum!

What kinds of things have you been doing to market your business and attract new customers?

Currently I am getting almost all my new customers from CraigsList. I plan to start advertising in the local Chisholm Trail Shopper Classifieds in April which is normally the beginning of our Mowing season. I have created an advertisement on Thumbtack.com and I am also in the process of creating a Facebook business page. I have been staying pretty busy although every new customer this winter has been one time only. Seems they don't mind mowing but they don't like cleaning up all the leaves and trimming the bushes.

gil500

01-17-2012, 03:23 PM

Thank goodness
I am not the old timer on here any more.
I look forward to watching your posts
Good luck with the company.

Graham
AKA: Ducke

Thank you, Yesterday after trimming 3 trees and hauling off all the limbs I felt like an old timer but this morning I woke up feeling like doing it all again.

gil500

01-17-2012, 04:13 PM

Thanks Gil for the inspiring thread. If the grass cutting doesn't work out, clearly you have skills artistically that you could get paid for.

The one thing I do a lot is read, especially in the winter months, so I read many stories that just make you either want to PUKE or make you WORK even harder.
Stories like yours keeps the passion and drive alive!

Good luck brother!

THANK YOU

You sound a little like me, In the winter when it is too cold (Below Freezing) to work outside I spend almost all my time reading. It doesn't matter how much you know, how skilled, or talented you are when you reach a certain age and begin to show your age people start treating you as though your helpless and mentally challenged. I know that I look old but I do not feel old. I think of the 85 year old man that I work for as old, although I have to hustle to keep up with him. He is my role model and the one who motivates me.